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There are plenty of pre-paid MVNOs in the US, but Ting has consistently offered some of the best deals. However, it only worked on Sprint's network. If that wasn't a good fit for you, tough. The company recently started testing a GSM service on an invite-only basis, but now it's open to everyone. While it's still technically beta, you can add a GSM phone to Ting right now.

Ting has attracted many customers with its low-cost, pay-for-what-you-use tier-based approach to mobile service (give me a second, I'm sure I could fit more hyphens into this sentence), but some have been put off by the company's reliance on the Sprint network. Starting February 2015, folks will have a choice. Ting will start offering a GSM option for people who just want to pop a SIM card into their existing unlocked phone.

Are you tired of reading about some of the more nefarious developments at the Big Four US wireless carriers? Are you stuck in a two-year contract that you signed to get a steep discount on your phone? Are you ready to make a change to a carrier that at least pretends that it needs your business? Then Ting would like a word. The Sprint MVNO is doubling down on its offer to help pay off your early termination fee, up to $150.

Things are strange when you're dealing with CDMA carriers, and doubly so when it's an MVNO. You've been able to buy the Galaxy S4 and HTC One (M7) since they came out last year on Ting, but now inactive Sprint devices can be ported to Ting.

Samsung officially launched the Galaxy S5 globally last Friday, making it available for purchase at retailers all over the world. That said, not everyone is able to get their hands on it just yet. Sprint MVNO Ting isn't able to offer the devices at the same time as the carrier it's reliant on - but at least this time the wait isn't too long. Ting Galaxy S5 pre-orders are now available, with devices shipping out May 5th.

Full disclosure - Ting is my mobile provider of choice. I may write about the constant tug-of-war between the big four American carriers, but at the end of the day, I refuse to sign a two-year contract with anyone, and T-Mobile has precisely zero coverage in the drastically non-urban corner of the US that I'm from. Thankfully, I have options. Ting is celebrating its two-year anniversary this week, and it's doing so by slashing its data prices.

While I personally had not heard of Ting until today, the Tucows-owned Sprint MVNO operates on a pay-per-usage billing model, providing voice and data service on Sprint's complete network (including LTE). The company launched its first Android app in the Play Store today, designed to help you monitor your Ting account.

The Ting app may not be jam-packed with features, but it is decidedly clean and simple, and there's nothing wrong with that.